AMERICAN • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of American

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/əmˈɛrəkən/ /əmˈɛrɪkən/ Listen

adjective

American adj.

Of or pertaining to America; as, the American continent: American Indians.

Of or pertaining to the United States. "A young officer of the American navy."

American ivy. See Virginia creeper.

American Party (U. S. Politics), a party, about 1854, which opposed the influence of foreign-born citizens, and those supposed to owe allegiance to a foreign power.

Native american Party (U. S. Politics), a party of principles similar to those of the American party. It arose about 1843, but soon died out.

noun

American n. A native of America; originally applied to the aboriginal inhabitants, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America, and especially to the citizens of the United States. "The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism."

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Etymology of 'American'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"American" Quotes from Famous Books

... during the two days he had been scouring the country; and then it was not probable that Don Estevan would have dared to weaken his force by dividing it. He therefore lay still, and concluded that the sounds proceeded from some party of American hunters surprised ...

— Wood Rangers - The Trappers of Sonora • Mayne Reid

... Manners—have I ventured to hint definitely at anything pertaining to the shame and iniquity underlying a discouragingly large part of the work-girls' world. In my magazine articles I was obliged to leave out all reference to this tabooed topic. The attitude of the public, especially the American public, toward this subject is a curious mixture of prudery and gallantry. It bridles at anything which impeaches the traditional honor and chastity of the working girl. The chivalry of American men—and my experience in workshop, store, and factory has proved to me how genuine and ...

— The Long Day - The Story of a New York Working Girl As Told by Herself • Dorothy Richardson

... belonging to so valiant an old town. They could plan a dozen expeditions to places of historic interest. There had been even witches in Tideshead, and soldiers and scholars to find out about and remember. There was no better way of learning American history (as Miss Leicester said) than to study thoroughly the history of a single New England village. As for newer towns in the West, they were all children of some earlier settlements, and nobody could tell how far back a little careful ...

— Betty Leicester - A Story For Girls • Sarah Orne Jewett

... education, as Plato suggested. The only safety is in the general and intelligent desire for the public interest and common welfare. At this moment almost unanimous acceptance of responsibility for what we believe to be the public good and the maintenance of American ideals—though it brings to each of us sacrifice and to many the full measure of devotion—bears witness to the ability of human nature to adopt as its compelling motives a high end which opposes ...

— The Ethics of Coperation • James Hayden Tufts

... by which Mr. Greeley gained, and so long held, the first place among American journalists, was his manner of writing. His negative merits as a writer were great; and it would be surprising to find these negative merits so rare as to be a title to distinction, if observation did not force the faults he avoided so perpetually upon our notice. ...

— Brave Men and Women - Their Struggles, Failures, And Triumphs • O.E. Fuller

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